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  • 1.  Nature inclusion for classroom managment

    Posted 07-06-2017 03:04 PM
    Hello.  I am doing a research paper on the inclusion of nature to the curriculum and how it affects classroom management.  If anyone has a story or comment regarding this subject, I would be happy to hear it.  

    If you know of a previous study conducted along these lines, I would like to hear about it too. 
    Thank you.

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    Carmela Beardsley
    North East PA
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  • 2.  RE: Nature inclusion for classroom managment

    Posted 07-07-2017 01:46 PM
    This is a topic that I am very interested in also! A couple great resources are The Last Child in the Woods by Richard Louv and anything from Project Learning Tree  www.plt.org. Good luck!

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    Susan Wilker
    Dillsboro IN
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    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: Nature inclusion for classroom managment

    Posted 07-14-2017 10:28 AM
    ​Here's an interesting British study on the effects of Loose Parts play on behavior:

    Armitage, M. (2009) Play Pods in Schools: An Independent Evaluation (2006-09) United Kingdom:

    Playpeople. Accessed 11/06/16 at: http://tinyurl.com/MAPlayPods



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    Maureen Milarch
    Assistant Director/Faculty
    Grand Rapids Community College Laboratory Preschool
    Grand Rapids MI
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    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Nature inclusion for classroom managment

    Posted 07-11-2017 03:39 PM

    I have a bit of experience, in my daycare we would study nature in the safety of out backyard.  It was an old home converted into a pre-school //daycare.  The children really enjoyed nature in playing with dirt, collecting leaves, and other 

    "treasures" as they would call them... Anything they dug from underneath the ground.  This would be during outside play time.  I never encoiuntered any problems with management other than time to clean up to go back inside.  They could never get enough of it! 
    We still followed a plan.  They understood transitions to put things away until tomorrow.  They also understood that if there was anything they didn't get to finish they could finish the next day.  Things were just stacked on a shelf undisturbed for display.  
    I am conserned about dangerous insects too.  They know to ask or show teacher when they found one. 
    Children do need the experience of nature but safety is always first..
    City daycares have got to find a way to bring in nature.  The logistics of city doesn't lend itself to that.



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    Laura Vela
    Hebbronville TX
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    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: Nature inclusion for classroom managment

    Posted 07-13-2017 06:41 PM
      |   view attached
    Hi Carmela,

    Including natural materials as provocations in the classroom is an ongoing part of our curriculum for all ages-infants through preschool.
    When children have interesting materials to engage with the management needs of the classroom are greatly reduced.  One annual activity we do is the Flower project. Families and staff bring in flowers during the week and we sit up a space where children can come and paint, draw and collage flower pictures. The room looks beautiful filled with little jars of flowers and the children's artwork.

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    Laure Patrick
    Helen Gordon CDC
    Portland OR
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    Original Message